A syringe (1) comprises a barrel (2) having a needle (23) engaged in a glass hub (19). The glass hub (19) is retractable under the action of a spring (30) towards the trailing end of the syringe. The glass hub (19) is restrained against movement towards the trailing end by a crown (10) which is removably attached to the glass hub (19). A plunger (36) engages the crown (10), removing it from the glass hub (19) and allowing retraction of the needle (23). A core (45), removably attached to the end of the plunger by a resiliently deformable member, is then removed from the plunger, allowing the glass hub (19) and the needle (23) to be retracted into the plunger under the action of the spring (30).